The Hug: Ted Nugent embraces Sheila Jackson Lee. Really!

Aftermath of a hug: Ted Nugent and Sheila Jackson Lee (Washington Times photo)

The Washington Times today has a great little scoop from behind the scenes on Capitol Hill. It involves two outspoken and controversial Texas residents: Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Houston and rock musician Ted Nugent of Waco (via Detroit).

After President Barack Obama’s State of the Union, the very liberal Democratic congresswoman and the very conservative rocker and gun rights advocate crossed paths outside the House chamber.

Mr. Nugent is smiling. Mrs. Lee is smiling. Mr. Nugent is attired in suede and a camouflage cowboy hat, the Texas Democrat wears a purple jacket and holds a water bottle.

Is this bipartisanship? Could be.

The musician and the lawmaker talked over their mutual love of Motown and the Lone Star State, according to Rep. Steve Stockman, the bold Texas Republican who brought Mr. Nugent to the address in the first place.

“I’m bringing people together,” Mr. Stockman says.

It’ll take a lot for Stockman to bring Jackson Lee and Nugent together. Jackson Lee is one of the strongest backers of Obama in Congress. Nugent has been profane in his sharp criticism of the second-term president, with his comments having provoked a Secret Service visit to his Waco ranch.

“Barack Obama’s entire professional political life has been anti-Second Amendment,” Nugent told us in a G-Rated exchange yesterday. “I just don’t believe a word that comes out of this president’s mouth.”

Nugent, who came to the nation’s capital unarmed, said he feared that Obama would still try to seize Americans’ weapons.

“When the gun-grabbers claim they don’t want to take all our guns, you just have to look at the record,” he said.

Jackson Lee had a very different perspective.

“The president spoke to all his critics tonight,” she told Texas on the Potomac after the speech.

Those critics would most definitely include Ted Nugent — and Steve Stockman.